Sign letter



Dec. 19, 1950 J MlLLER 2,534,467

SIGN LETTER Filed July 25, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

clgou ws 1 .7w flaw M Patented Dec. 19, 1950 SIGN LETTER James T. Miller, Niles, Mich., assignor to The Kawneer Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 25, 1945, Serial No. 606,973

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to signs and especially to a novel letter for signs so constructed and arranged as to produce a novel effect and at minimum cost of production.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel sign letter comprising two members of similar contour suitably spaced apart and retained in spaced relation, the members being painted or otherwise coated in different colors whereby to produce the effect of a letter of great thickness or depth.

The invention further comprehends a novel composite sign letter formed or consisting of spaced letters permitting the use of neon lights or other lighting therebetween and thereby giving the sign an unusual lighting effect.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly, operation and maintenance, and while the accompanying drawing shows therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an enlarged view in perspective of a sign letter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a sign embodying the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing, the novel invention therein disclosed comprehends a sign letter I comprising an outer or face letter or member 2 and a similarly contoured inner or back letter or member 3 suitably spaced apart and maintained in that spaced relation by means of a series of metal spacers or rods 4. These letters or members 2 and 3 are preferably of stamped metal with the back or inner letter 3 preferably painted or fired in porcelain enamel in one color and the outer or face letter 2 preferably painted or fired in porcelain enamel of another color. However, these letters may be made of other metals as well as porcelain, including aluminum, stainless steel, bronze or other metal or material suitable for giving the effect of a deep return. In other words, this construction and spaced arrangement of the similarly contoured letters or members produces the effect of a very thick or deep composite letter I.

The invention further comprehends a composite sign letter in which the aligned or coinciding component parts thereof are so spaced apart and to such an extent as to permit the use of neon lights 5 or other lighting anchored onto the spacers 4 between the face and back letters 2 and 3 and thereby giving to the com osite sign letters a novel and unusual lighting effect.

By making the letters of the disclosed metal or the like, a sign so produced will be more economical in construction, operation and upkeep than the signs now employed, and the effect produced thereby will be that of a relatively deep or thick letter standing out in bold relief.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A sign character comprising a pair of substantially identical fiat metal plates, each in the form of the same letter of the alphabet, with the edges of the plates terminating in free exposed edges at the boundaries of the letter around the entire margin of the character; means to retain the plates in relatively widely spaced noncoplanar assembly with the space between the plates substantially open; a coating on each plate of a different color for producing the effect of a composite letter having relatively great thickness; together with a luminous tube in the form of the same letter of the alphabet as the plates positioned between the pair of plates and entirely within their marginal edges, whereby the space between the plates will be illuminated and the edges of each letter will be visible around their entire margins to add to the effect of relatively great depth of the character.

2. A sign character comprising a pair of substantially identical fiat metal plates, each in the form of the same letter of the alphabet, with the edges of the plates terminating in free exposed edges at the boundaries of the letter around the entire margin of the character; means to retain the plates in relatively widely spaced noncoplanar assembly with the space between the plates substantially open; together with a luminous tube in the form of the same letter of the alphabet as the plates positioned between the pair of plates and entirely within their marginal edges, whereby the space between the plates will be illuminated and the edges of each letter will be visible around their entire margins to add to the effect of relatively great depth of the character.

JAMES T. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 208,974 Gulden Oct. 15, 1878 842,954 Howe Feb. 5, 1907 1,122,164 Schneider Dec. 22, 1914 2,113,026 Kehl Apr. 5, 1938 2,141,955 Lang Dec. 27, 1938 2,225,442 Elle Dec. 17, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 390,087 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1933 528,329 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1940 569,277 Germany Feb. 2, 1933 

